Formula 1 has set a mid-September deadline to decide whether its season-closing races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi survive the ongoing Middle East conflict, with Imola quietly being warmed up as the most likely alternative. Elegant, it is not. But with the Iran war still grinding on and US military bases in the region taking fresh missile hits as recently as Tuesday, F1’s options are narrowing fast.
The Deadline That Changes Everything
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali was characteristically measured when he addressed media in Budapest, but read between the lines and the situation is precarious. The season-ending triple-header of Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi is nominally intact. Qatar and Abu Dhabi are even sold out, which Domenicali presented as a heartwarming sign of the sport’s resilience. A cynic might call it a sign that fans have not yet received their refunds.
“That moment will not be before the middle of September. For us today, the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are confirmed. But of course, if the situation is not clear the way that we believe it should be before the middle of September, we will take the decision. If it is not possible, the end of the season will be in Europe, because we cannot go to other places.” – Stefano Domenicali
F1 must deliver at least 22 races to avoid breaching its broadcast contracts. Malaysia stepping in to host the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang on 4 October gives the calendar 21 guaranteed rounds. Everything after Las Vegas is now a question mark.
Why Las Vegas Is Off the Table
Rumours of a Las Vegas double-header were always fantasy. Thanksgiving weekend in the US means the NFL dominates every screen in the country from 25 to 27 November, and Domenicali flatly ruled out competing with that. He also pointedly noted that F1 does not want to dilute what it considers a growing jewel of its calendar. Given that Liberty Media just settled a class-action lawsuit from 2023 Las Vegas spectators for $3 million, perhaps the shine on that particular jewel deserves closer inspection.
Imola: Cold, Damp, and Increasingly Likely
The frontrunner for a European finale is Imola, which dropped off the 2026 calendar and retains its FIA Grade 1 licence. Portimao would make more meteorological sense, but it is mid-renovation ahead of its scheduled 2027 return. Turkey and Barcelona are also undergoing work. That leaves Imola, which in early December averages around 4C. Domenicali, deploying impressive statistical creativity, argued that is actually warmer than Las Vegas in November. Technically true. Spiritually absurd.
“Imola is in the basket, but it is not defined as Imola. It is an option.” – Stefano Domenicali
The championship picture adds another layer of intrigue. Kimi Antonelli leads with 219 points, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell giving Mercedes a stranglehold at the top. An Imola finale would arguably suit the Silver Arrows nicely, which will not go unnoticed in Maranello or Milton Keynes. For Red Bull, already suffering through a difficult campaign, a cold Italian circuit in December would be another unwelcome twist. Max Verstappen’s future at the team is complicated enough without the season potentially ending in a fog bank.
The Bigger Picture for 2027
Domenicali also confirmed that the 2027 calendar will be published in autumn based on Bahrain and Saudi Arabia opening the season as planned, with contingency plans sitting quietly in a drawer. Given that pre-season testing is also scheduled for Bahrain, the stakes of the Middle East situation extend well beyond this season. F1 has options. Whether any of them are good ones is a different matter entirely.
Mid-September cannot come soon enough. For fans who bought tickets to Qatar or Abu Dhabi, the wait must feel considerably longer.
